San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1887-07-12
TUESDAY. JULY IL. 1887.
HURRY THE MoURNERs.

As will be seen by council proceeding,
published else where, the city fathers
have taken action upon the matter 20
often and so repeatedly urged upon
their notice, the cleaning OF the beds of
the San Antonio and San Pedro rivers.
An appropriation for this work has
been made, and the council have been
thing. Now that the order has been
given, the citizens will demand its in
slant execution. This work is neces-
sary. 1t Is imperative. 1t is the only
means OF avoiding a pestilence in this
city. Our unrivalled climate, and the
marvellous purity Of this atmosp here,
have alone prevented terrible M Ortali-
ty here. The conditions for cleaning
the river were never more favorable.
The water is unprecedentedly low and
the bed OF the river more accessible
than ever before. Two things only are
insisted upon; Immediate action and
$1,000 for this work may, or may not be
sufficient. The amendment of Aid err
man Degener covers that ground, and no
considerations of cost should be
allowed to interfere with the
most complete carrying out of all
that is included in the words,
thoroughly cleaned. During this heated
term the shrinking bed Of the river pre-
sents most unsightly condition. This
work of cleaning will do much to preyent
the unfavOrsble comments that are made
upon the sanitary condition OF this city
by the stranger within our gates. Hun
dreds of visitors are deferred from com
ing here by our municipal slOVenliness.
Plazas, streets and rivers as filthy and
rs uninviting as though cleanliness was
not as much d municipal rs a household
virtue. These streams are by nature
intended to pulse life tides through this
old town and keep in free circulation all
the life currents. Instead Of this, they
are ehoked with rubbish polluted with
the DRAWINGS Of cess pools, vaults, and
night soil closets; strangled with the
growth of rank vegetation and made a.
unsavory and unsightly as though they
were of 10 value in the SUN Total of our
blessings. This work OF cleaning the
San Antonio and San Pedro rivers wants
to be thoroughly done under competent
direction, and it wants TO be done now.
1t should not he delayed, as have been
the bids for city work, until those inter-
ested therein despair of seeing anything
accomplished. The supervisors of this
work should also give intelligent atten-
tion to the amount of sewerage
that reaches the rivers from under
ground drains and pipes. Could our
citizens gain an approximate idea OF the
amount of sewerage from hotels and
private dwellings, that is conveyed into
these rivers they would literally stand
aghast. The condition OF atfsirs here
cannot be para, eled 10 any city of Its
size in Europe or America. The LIGHT
sincerely hopes that the city engineer
will, during the cleaning Of these river
beds. take some measures to ascertain
the extent TO Wnlcn these streams are
used rs sewers and report in such way
"a that the matter can be set clearly be-
fore the eyes and intelligence of the tax
PAYERS OF the city. This constant call
Ing or the public attention to the things
(which make against the reputation Of
hour beautiful city is not a peasant task
rsfor the journalists of this city, who
would infinitely prefer to dwell upon its
! advantages and delights. But our city
must be redeemed from its present I'M
siehtliness, and purified from its IN
cleanness, and given a complete system
of sewerage, before it is in condition to
be represented abroad as the healthiest
of all cities on this continent, and the
one most fitted to become the great
health resort Of America. Until il is
thus cleaned and besutified the LIGHT
shall not cease to call public attention
to the changes demanded, no matter
how thankless the task.
THE voters Of this state will pause be-
fore they deliberately conclude to put
the home circle and the lying-in beds Of